Jordan Mechner to Keynote 2009 Game Developers Conference(R) China

SAN FRANCISCO -

- Prince of Persia Franchise Creator to Discuss Success in Games and Soon the Big Screen

Jordan Mechner, game designer, programmer, screenwriter, and creator of the widely acclaimed Prince of Persia franchise will deliver a keynote address at the 2009 Game Developers Conference China. GDC China presented by Think Services, a division of United Business Media, will take place at the Shanghai International Convention Center, October 11-13 of this year.

Mechner’s keynote address will explore the success of the Prince of Persia series which was first released in 1989 as well as his own success as a game designer, programmer, and finally director and screenwriter. Following the release of seven chapters of the series, Mechner wrote the script for the film version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Mike Newell. The movie will be released by Walt Disney Pictures in May of 2010.

“We are so excited to welcome Jordan to the stage in Shanghai,” said Meggan Scavio, GDC China event director. “He has a great story to share with the audience from a game design, artistic, and storytelling perspective; as well as the business acumen to succeed in maintaining a strong brand, building commercial success, and further transitioning games to film.”

Mechner’s first hit game was Karateka (1984), written while he was still an undergraduate at Yale University. Prince of Persia, released in 1989, was noted for its fluid animation of human figures. Both titles were published by Broderbund. In 1993, he formed Smoking Car Productions, an entertainment software development group based in San Francisco. In 2003, Ubisoft released the fourth installment of the Prince of Persia saga, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, on which Mechner collaborated as writer and game designer. Mechner today divides his time between writing screenplays, graphic novels, and designing video games. He also wrote and directed two award-winning documentaries, including Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story. He is writing the screenplay for a film adaptation of Michael Turner’s Fathom starring Megan Fox. He is collaborating with artists LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland on a new graphic novel to be published by First Second Books in 2010.

Mechner joins a prominent lineup of GDC China speakers including Kelly Snapka (Art Director, Volition, Inc.), Todd Coleman (Co-Founder, Wolfpack Studios Inc.), Chris Ulm (CEO, Appy), Billy Hsu (CEO, DJL Worldwide), Mack Growen (GM, Playfish China), Brad MacDonald (Art Director, Large Animal Games), Tony Chen (Online Business Development Manager, Take Two Asia), Simon Carless (Publisher, Gamasutra.com and Game Developer Magazine), and several more. The GDC China early bird rate ends Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

For more information on the 2009 Game Developers Conference(R) China, please visit www.gdcchina.com.

About the Think Services Game Group

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award-winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz and other Gamasutra Network websites, the Game Developers Conference(R), the Game Developers Conference(R) Austin, the Game Developers Conference(R) Europe, the Game Developers Conference(R) China, the Game Developers Conference(R) Canada, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. To learn more, visit www.tsgamegroup.com

About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division’s flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.

Contact: Audrey Shen Think Services, a division of United Business Media +86-21-62787488-8701 Ben Veechai, North America +1-415-947-6280

Source: Think Services Game Group

Audrey Shen, +86-21-62787488-8701, ashen at ubmtechnology.com.cn, or Ben Veechai, North America, +1-415-947-6280, bveechai at think-services.com, both of Think Services, a division of United Business Media